Author: Alice Rose

Getting a degree is undoubtedly one of the most important steps towards getting a job.

But because of the current economy crisis, employers are looking for more than just a degree; they want experience.

With little jobs available, the job market is extremely competitive, – so having work experience can put you one step above fellow applicants.

Depending on your university hours and the course you do, having time for work placements can seem impossible.

However, even just a few weekend shifts at your local radio station or elsewhere will instantly put some pizzazz on your CV.

Hannah Webster, a media student at the University of Lincoln, says that in many industries work experience can even be more important than the degree itself:

“You can make contacts and get some real life experience that academic projects can just never compete with,” she says.

Many employers love to see that graduates have gone out into the real world &  taken responsibility of their future.

It may sound a bit odd to those with degrees that cover a wide range of topics, but even a small placement at somewhere local will boost your CV no end.

Alex Dunn works for the University of Lincoln Careers & Employability and says that work experience will help you stand out from the crowd in the eyes of your employer:

“There are so many things you can gain from doing work experience – it is a more hands on way of developing skills, and helping you decide whether certain types of work are right for you. Work experience complements degree work fantastically, allowing you the chance to put your new found knowledge into practice and allowing you to relate what you’ve learned to the world of work”.

So there you have it, work experience can do you the world of good. Getting a placement will bring your confidence levels up and help with producing your CV, but don’t forget the importance of your degree as well.

If you want more information or advice about work experience, the University of Lincoln Careers and Employability team can help. Contact them on their website or drop in to their office behind the Library on the Brayford Campus.

Living with others can be hard, and even sometimes downright difficult.

If you’re a student, you’ll most likely be living in a shared house at one point in your university life.

You could be living with friends, or people you don’t really talk to.

And even if you are house sharing with your best mates, you’ll still run into difficulties.

So how do you avoid fights and conflicts? We give you some tips.

• Always be honest with one another.It sounds simple but it’s true. By being completely honest with each other about how you feel (whether someone isn’t cleaning enough or putting effort in with everyone) your housemates will appreciate it. Plus, no one likes built up tension.
• Don’t talk or complain about your other housemates faults/flaws behind their back.Everyone has faults. Maybe one of your housemates has really annoyed you on one particular day, but you’ll get nowhere moaning to someone else about them.
• Make a cleaning chat or rota.If you’re in a household that has problems with cleaning, i.e. a few housemates don’t really clean up after themselves or take the bins out, then make a rota. It means everyone will participate and join in.
• Respect each other’s space.After a busy day, all you want to do is come home and collapse into bed. Everyone feels that way at least once or twice. So if your housemates come home, say a quick hi and go straight to their rooms, don’t be offended. They just need some time to themselves.
• Keep things light and friendly.If you have a problem with something in the house, make it known but keep it friendly and not over the top. It’ll keep a good atmosphere and the problem will get sorted out quicker. 

We hope our 5 tips help when living in a house with others. Let us know how you get on by commenting below. If you need any more help contact our agony aunt Laura on our agony page.